Lemon balm is a perennial herb in the mint family that has a variety of traditional culinary and medicinal uses. Its mild lemon flavor makes it useful as a tea or to flavor fish or fruit dishes. Its lemon flavor comes partly from citronell, which is used to repel mosquitos, and lemon balm can be used topically for that purpose. Research has revealed some substantial health benefits of this herb.
Anxiety
Lemon balm reduced cortisol levels and also levels of an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter GABA -- an inhibitory neurotransmitter known for its calming effects on the nervous system, particularly an area called the hippocampus, in a study published in the November 2010 "Neurochemical Research." The study used dosage levels of 50 mg/kg body weight and 200 mg/kg body weight daily for three weeks and both levels produced significant results. The researchers noted that the results of lemon balm's actions in reducing cortisol and preserving GABA promote cell growth and development in the hippocampus, which is part of the limbic system and contributes to the control of emotions such as anxiety.
Alzheimer's Disease
Lemon balm's effect at enhancing mood and improving memory led researchers to suggest its potential for use as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the October 2003 "Neuropsychopharmacology." In the study, doses of 600, 1,000 and 1,600 mg of dried leaf were administered to 20 healthy young participants. The most notable improvements in mood and memory were obtained with the highest dose, and the researchers suggest that further improvements may be obtained with even higher doses. They also noted that effectiveness varies depending on the source and process used to prepare the herb as a supplement and that different preparations may have different levels of active ingredients and therefore different levels of activity.
HIV
Lemon balm was found to be highly effective against HIV in three different types of tissue cultures in a study published in the March 2008 "Retrovirology." Exposure of free-floating virus particles to lemon balm extract resulted in rapid inhibition of infection while exposure of virus particles that were attached to target cells had no effect. The study, which used water-based extracts of lemon balm, reported no interference with normal cell functions. The researchers report that lemon balm appears to increase the density of the virus, making it less viable and predict that there may be potential for the use of lemon balm extract as a topical antiviral agent.
References
- PubMed: Effects of Melissa officinalis L. (Lemon Balm) Extract on Neurogenesis Associated with Serum Corticosterone and GABA in the Mouse Dentate Gyrus.
- PubMed: Modulation of mood and cognitive performance following acute administration of single doses of Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm) with human CNS nicotinic and muscarinic receptor-binding properties.
- Retrovirology: Aqueous extracts from peppermint, sage and lemon balm leaves display potent anti-HIV-1 activity by increasing the virion density
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